Hog fountain



May 30, 1950 M.L.RYSDON HOG FOUNTAIN Filed June 4, 1947 2 Sheets-Shget l May 30, 1950 M. RYSDON 9 14 HOG FOUNTAIN Filed June 4, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 30, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i :no G FOUNTAIN Max L. Rysdon; Sioux Falls, s. Dak.

Application Janet, .1947, Serial No. 752,419

14 Claims.

This invention-relates to fountainsforanimals such as hogs.

An object of the invention is the special construction of such afountain foreificiently utilizing heat applied thereto by heating means for preventing freezing of the water in cold weather.

Another object of the invention is the :provision oflsuch a fountainwhich-requires lessheat for preventing its freezing than ordinary foun. tains. i

A further object of the invention is the l provision of an animal fountain havinga plurality of drinking stations and in which asingle heating means is employed for heatlng all drinking stations.

A still further object is toprovid'e asing1eheating means for a drinking trough and its drinking stations,-and the heated air which isiapplied to the drinking trough thereafter is applied to the supply container included in -the fountain for supplying waterto the trough.

Still anotherobjecttof the inventionis thelprovisionof a fountain having a drinking trough of great area which can be heated by a'singleheaL ing means. i Another object is the reduction of attention required for keeping the fountain in an-heated condition.

A still further object is the applicationofheat at the central portions of the drinking 'troughso,

that the water heated thereby iscirculateddn the trough to the drinking stations at thBwGHClS of the trough.

Still another obj 'ectis the provision of a shield or heat retention means for retaining heated ain in a position "adjacent the drinking trough.

A further object is theprovision or'means "for retarding the escape of 'heat out ofthe fountain to prolongits heating effect on the water in the fountain. 4:

The fountain of' th'e present invention'employs a conduit communicatingb'etween the supplylcon tainer and the drinking trough, the flowof water in which is controlledby a float m the drinking A further object therefore of -the present invention is the provisionof means'ior concentrating heated air in apositlon adjacent said 'conduit.

Another object ofthe invention is the provision of agitator means in said "conduitandextending into the 'supplycontainenwhioh is-aetuated 'by the float in the drinking trough toifurther aid in preventing any *fr'eezing action in the container a'djacent said conduit.

v 2 ventionl consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully setforth,

pointed out in @my claims and illustrated-in the Figure 5 is a horizontal-sectional View taken on line 5- -5 of wFigureB;

Figure 6 is a horizontalsectional view taken on line 6--6 of Figurel3;

Figure '7 is a horizontalusectional view taken on line 'l--1 of Figure-3;

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 8-l-8 of Figure 3; and

Figure 9 is asectionalwiew taken on line 19%49 of Figure 3.

--Referring now in detail to the i drawings, the fountain of my invention is illustrated in simple outline in Figures Land 2 and contains an outer shell [2, generally cylindriealwin cross section. having openings l4ri1l opposite :sides thereof; disposed toward the lower partof the shellwOn one of the sides of: the shelltat thelower part there is a slide l6. for afiording access tothe in.- terior of the shell. A cover 18 having a: depend! ing-periphera1 flange 19 is loosely supportedron the top of the shell. 7 The shell 12' is preferably of corrugated sheet. metal to provideincreased strength, but for purposes ofpsimplificationlzin drafting, it is showntas being non-corrugated. Referring particularly to Figures 3 and 4 the shell I! is made up of a lowertsection :20 andran upper section 22. The lower section 20 is pro A vided with a \bottomclosure 24 secured to;:the

bottom edge of thezshel'l in ahead 26as isusual in sheet metal work.

Thetwo partsltilland 22 of the shell l2are secured togetherby a bead 28f0rmed of the meeting marginal edges of the respectivetparts. Plates 30:aresecured in thebead 28, extending inwardly thereof, and are disposed on opposite sidesof the shell l2. The plate igfl :extend circumferentially of the shellaconsiderable extent, as illustrated in Figure 5,and inwardly of the shell only a shortdistances Supporting brackets 32 are also securedain the head 28 on opposite sides thereof and disposed transverselyto' the With these andptherbbjects inwiew, my-111 positions of the plates 30. The brackets 32 are 2,569,455 r a e of considerably less circumferential extent than the plates 35.

It will be understood that the sheet metal in the shell I2, and the other parts to be described hereinafter, are exaggerated in thickness in the illustrations, for ease in visualizing the construction. Actually the thickness represented may be much less. In other instances, parts may be illustrated in distorted proportions.

A supply container 34, also preferably of corrugated sheet metal, is mounted in the upper part of the shell I2, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The container 34 is circular in cross section to conform with the shape of the shell I2, and is of reduced diameter to provide an annular space 35 therebetween. The container 34 is formed of a surrounding side wall, and a bottom 36 secured in the side wall in a bead 38. The container 34 is supported in the shell by means of the plates 35 and is retained against rocking by the brackets 32. The plates extend inwardly only sufficiently to support the container 34.

Mounted in the shell I2 below the supply container 34 is an elongated drinking trough 45 which is rectangular in cross section, having its ends supported on the lower marginal edges of the opposite openings I4. The bottom plate of the trough 45 is turned up to form end members of the trough and the extremities of the end members are turned over the lower edges of the openings I4, as indicated at 42. The trough has an open 'top, and the ends of the trough are in register with the openings M to form drinking stations on opposite sides of the fountain.

The drinking trough 40 has communication with the supply container 34 by means of a conduit 44 which has its upper end extending through the bottom of the container 34 and secured thereto by means of a sleeve 46. The lower end of the conduit 44 terminates shortly above the upper open side of the trough 40 and is disposed for discharging water from the container 44 into the trough 45.

An agitator or plunger 48 is loosely disposed in the conduit 44 and is long enough to have its upper end extending out of the upper end of the conduit 44 and into the container 34; and its lower end extends out of the lower end of the.

conduit 44. Secured to the lower end of the plunger 43 is a rounded valve member 53 having its upper surface rounded and adapted to engage andclose the lower end of the conduit 44. The valve member 50 is preferably composed of rubber or other resilient material which is pliable and thereby adapted to effectively seal the lower end of the conduit 44.

A float 52 is disposed in the drinking trough 40 below the conduit 44. The float 52 is of large area to furnish considerable force for actuating the valve member 50. The float 52 is preferably disconnected from the valve member 59, but if desired they may have positive connection therebetween. Guide members 54 are secured to the bottom of the drinking trough 4e on opposite sides of the float 52 for centering the float in the trough, the float then being guided by the guide members 54 and the sides of the trough 4B.

A bafile or deflector member indicated generally at 53 is positioned in the lower part of the shell I 2 under the container 34.

drinking trough 45 and the under surface of the bottom of the container 34. The tubular member 58 includes portions 60 extending substantially into contact with the container 34, and these The bafiie mernber 56 forms a tubular element 53 between the portions 6!! are disposed over the drinking trough 4B. The remainder of the tubular member 53 terminates a short distance below the container 34, as indicated at 52, vforming passages out of the tubular element 58.

The tubular element 58 is oval in cross section, as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, with the longer transverse dimension thereof disposed transversely of the drinking trough 45. The side portions of the tubular element 58 which are disposed laterally of the trough 45 extend downwardly substantially into contact with the bottom 2d of the shell as indicated at 54, thus forming in eftubular element 58 in which the trough 4c is disposed. Formed in one of the downwardly ex- 'tending portions 64 is a hinged door 55 adapted to swing outwardly therefrom for affording access to the space below the trough 43. The door 66 is in register with the slide It in the side of the shell I2. The slide I8 may be a simple slide held in place by side flanges 33 in which the slide I6 may be raised and lowered. An oil lamp Hi is shown in the space below the trough 45. The lamp Ill may be any convenient heating means and is disposed so that the heat therefrom is concentrated mostly in the central portion of the trough 45. The lamp III may be inserted into place and removed therefrom through the door 63 and the slide opening I6.

A cone shaped shield I2 is secured to the conduit 44 adjacent the lower end thereof and is thereby positioned a short distance above the upper side of the trough 4E). The shield I2 is disposed with its concave side directed downwardly. The shield is oval in horizontal outline, similarly to the tubular element 58, and encompasses a substantial portion of the cross sectional area of the tubular member.

Plates or wall elements I4 are secured to the upper edges of the trough 40 between the tubular member 58 and the wall of the shell I2. Each pair of plates I4 disposed on respective sides of the tubular element 58 may be formed of a single piece of material, having an interconnecting portion I5 which is fitted against the tubular element 58. The plates I4 extend upwardly substantially in contact with the under surface of the container 34. The plates I4 being disposed at the lateral edges of the trough 40 and of the respective openings I4, and cooperating with the extensions 53 at the top of the tubular member 58, form cavities which substantially enclose the outer ends of'the drinking trough 40 and seal them from the interior of the shell and expose them to the exterior through the openings I4 The plates 30 close the cavities from the annular space 35 between the shell I2 and the container 34.

The balile member 55 may be considered as including the tubular element 58 and the plates I4.

Side pieces '16 are secured to the portions 15 and extend down into the drinking trough 4E], and aid in securing the plates I4 in position. The pieces I6 are provided with holes 11 for the passage of water from the central part of the trough into the drinking stations at the ends thereof.

The cover I8 is provided with a central opening I8 and a tubular extension surrounding and depending from the central opening I8.

The lamp Ill, being positioned centrallyof the drinking trough 40, concentrates heat at the central portion thereof. The water in the central portion of the trough which is thereby heated then circulates to the ends of the trough in the drinking stations and the wholetrough is thereby heated-from a single eatin means. per-uni of the heated air fig the central part or the trough passes outwardly along "the trough, in

this way also'heats thetvater m me ends or the" of the cross sectional area of the tubular element 58 and thereby retains much of the heated air under the shield and in contactwith the upper surface of the drinking trough. This is another means ofheatin'g the water inthe trough.

Another advantageof the shield 72 is that'the" heated air retained thereunderis in contact with theconduit 44 and aids in preventing freezing of the conduit. This heat is conducted along the conduit, tending to keep the whole conduit free" as The heated air which eventually passes over the" of ice.

periphery at the shield 12 comes into contact with the central portion of the under surface of the container 34 and thereby retards freezing of the water in the container at the point where the 'gg' conduit 44 communicates therewith. For this reason, even if there is ice formed in theupper portion of the container 34, the conduit 44 may yet be open and water can pass therethrou'gh into the drinking trough.- r

The air which asses upwardly-in the tubular element 58 then passes outwardlythroughthe openings 62 and travels outwardly along the bottom of the container34; and upwardly through the annular space to aid in warming the water" in the container. The heated air then passes across the top of the container and eventually out through the opening 18. The tubular extension 80 surrounding the opening 18 prevents the rapid discharge of heated air through the open-=* ing, and retains it at the top of the container 34 to further "aid in imparting heat to the water in the container.

The float 52 is positioned under the valve mem ber 50 and when the water in the trough All raises to the desired level, the float pushes the valve member 50 into sealing engagement with the lower endof thec'o'nduit 44. 'I-ight seali'ng engagement is assured because any foreign matter on the valve member 50 will be washed ofi by the downflow of water through the conduit.

The plunger or agitator 48 secured to the valve member 50 is moved up and down throughthe conduit 44 on movement of the valve member 50.

The upper end of the plunger 48 serves to break;

any ice formation whiehmay tend to formon the upper end of the conduit 44.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, manifestly it is susceptible of modification and re arrangement of the parts without departingfroin the spirit andscope thereof. I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting my invention to the precise form herein disclosed, except as I may be solimited by the appended claims.

' I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the class described, comprising an outer shell, a water container mounted in the upper part of the outer shell with an annular space between said shell and container commu nicating with the lowerpart of the shelL'a trough mounted in said shell below said container, means providing communication between saidcontainer and trough, said shell having an opening in reg t-herisih providing cotnrrlunication' "between said tubular passage and said"anrililar space.

i 2. A device ofthe class described, comprising, anouter shell, a water container mounted in the part of the outer shell with an annular space betweensaid shell and container communicatihg with the lower part of-the shell, a trough r'houiitd in said shell below i said container in spaced relation to the bottomof the shell for placement of heating means therebelow, said shell liavirigan opening in registerwith said trough, meansproviding communication between said container and trough, and a balile member in the lower part or said shell, said baflle member substantially enclosing a portion of the open side of said trough for isolating it from the interior ofthe -shell and e using it to the exterior er the shell through 'said 'opening, and said halite-memb er tanning atubular passage from said trough to the tinder sur'face or said container, said "tubulaipassage having a dimension greater-than solid troughtransversely oi the trough, the upper portionof said balile member having an opening tliereinprovidrng corhrnun'id' ion' betwe-eir said tubular passage andsaid annular ep-ace.

3.-A fountain eoinprising ah hutershenpa Water container suppdr'tecl in the up er part of said shell with an shear space between said shell anetozhaiserya trough supported in said shellb owsa'i'd Eontainer nd above the' bottom shell, means pr ding communication between said container and trough, said "shell having an openin in register with trough, and a vertical tubular eleme'rithelow s':1id cohtainer, said tubular element having a transverse slot in the lower end of the side walls thereof, said tubular element being disposed with said trough positioned in and extending through ones'ideo'f said slot adjacent the top of said slot, the par-- tions 'of the walls of said tubular element defining the vertical edges of said slot extending downwardly to the bottom of said shell, and vertical plates secured in said shell above the upper edges or theportion of said trough disposed outwardly of said tubular element,said plates cooperating with said tubular element to isolate said portion of said trough from the interior of said shell and exposing it to the exterior of said shell through said opening.

4. A fountain comprising, an outer shell, ;a water container supported in the upper part of said shell with an annular space between said shell and container, a trough supported in said shell below said container and above the bottom of said shell, means providing communication between said container and trough, said shell having-openings on opposite sides thereof, in

register with said trough, and a vertical tubular element below said container, said tubular element having a transverse slot in the lower end of the side walls thereof, said tubular element being disposed with said trough positioned in and extending through said slot adjacent the top of said slot, the portions of the walls of said tubular element defining the vertical edges of said slot extending downwardly to the bottom of said shell, and vertical plates secured in said shell-above the upper edges each portion of said trough disposed outwardly of said tubular element, said plates 1coister W'ithsaid trough, :andva baille' member in n operating withsaid tubular element to isolate the 7 respective portions of said trough from the interior of said shell and exposing them to the exterior of said shell through said openings.

5. A fountain comprising, a shell, a water container mounted in the upper part of said shell, a trough mounted in the lower part of said shell in spaced relation to the bottom of the shell, said.

shell having openings therein in register with said trough, a tubular element extending from said trough to adjacent the under surface of said container, said tubular element being open at top and bottom and having a dimension greater than said trough transversely of the trough, a conduit in said tubular element communicating between said container and said trough, a valve member for closing the lower end of said conduit, a plunger secured to said valve member and extending into said conduit, and a float in said trough, said float being adapted to engage said valve member and seat the latter against said conduit, said plunger being moved in said conduit on movement of said valve member.

6. A fountain comprising, a shell, a water container mounted in the upper part of said shell, a trough mounted in the lower part of said shell in spaced relation to the bottom of the shell,

said shell having openings therein in register with;

said trough, a tubular element extending from said trough to adjacent the under surface of said container, said tubular element having a greater dimension than said trough in a direction transversely of said trough, a conduit in said tubular element communicating between said container and said trough, and a horizontally disposed shield secured to said conduit adjacent to and above said trough, said shield covering a substantial portion of the horizontal area of said tubular element.

7. A fountain comprising, a shell, a water container mounted in the upper part of said shell, a trough mounted in the lower part of said shell in spaced relation to the bottom of the shell, said shell having openings therein in register with said trough, a tubular element extending from said trough to adjacent the under surface of said container, a conduit in said tubular ele-. ment communicating between said container. and said trough, and a horizontally disposed cone-shaped shield secured to said conduit adjacent to and above said trough, said shell having a dimension greater than said trough transversely of the trough, the concave side of said cone-shaped shield being directed downwardly.

8. In a hog fountain, an outer shell, a water container in the upper part of the shell, said shell having openings in the opposite side walls thereof below said container and above the bottom of the shell, a trough extending transversely across the shell and supported in said openings, wall elements substantially enclosing the ends of said trough and isolating said ends from the interior of the shell and exposing them through said openings to the exterior of the shell, there being a space below said trough for positioning a heating means, and bafile means for directing a portion of the air heated by said heating means upwardly into contact with the central portion of the under surface of said container.

9. A fountain comprising, an outer shell, a

water container mounted in the upper part of the shell with an annular space between said shell and container, a trough in the lower part of the shell adapted to receive water from said container, there being a space below said trough for placement of heating means, and a cover for covering said shell in spaced relation above said container, said cover having a central opening and an open tubular member surrounding and depending downwardly from said central openmg.

10. A fountain comprising, an outer shell, a water container mounted in the upper part of the shell with an annular space between said shell and container, a trough in the lower part of the shell adapted to receive water from said container, there being a space below said trough for placement of heating means, baffie means for directing a portion of the air heated by said heating means into contact with the central portion of the under surface of said container and into said annular space, and a cover for covering said shell in spaced relation above said container, said cover having a central opening and an open tubular member surrounding and depending downwardly from said central openmg.

11. A fountain comprising, a shell, a water container mounted in the upper part of the shell, a trough mounted in the lower part of the shell, there being a space below said trough for placement of heating means, a conduit communicating between said container and trough, a horizontally disposed shield secured to said conduit adjacent the lower end thereof, said shell being positioned above said trough and having a dimension greater than said trough transversely of the trough, said shield adapted to retain air heated by said heating means adjacent the lower end of said conduit, a plunger in said conduit, and a float in said trough having operative association with said plunger, said plunger being actuated in said conduit on movement of said float.

12. A fountain comprising, an outer shell, a. water container mounted in the upper part of the shell, a trough mounted in the lower part of said shell, there being a space below said trough for placement of heating means, a vertical conduit communicating between said container and trough, a tubular element extending between said container and trough and surrounding saidconduit, said tubular element having a, relatively long and short transverse dimension and being positioned with its long transverse dimension disposed transversely to said trough, the ends of said trough extending outwardly beyond said tubular element, the portions of said tubular element disposed laterally of said trough extending downwardly to a position adjacent the bottom of said shell, and a horizontally disposed shield secured to said conduit adjacent the lower end thereof, said shield generally conforming in shape with the cross sectional contour of said tubular element and encompassing a substantial portion of the cross sectional area of said tubular element.

13. A fountain comprising, a shell, a water container mounted in the upper part of said shell, a trough mounted in the lower part of said shell in spaced relation to the bottom of the shell, and a vertical tubular element in the lower part of said shell extending between said trough and container, said tubular element being generally oval in horizontal cross section and being positioned with its long transverse dimension disposed transversely of said trough, the portions of said tubular element disposed laterally of said trough extending to the bottom of said shell.

14. A fountain comprising, an outer shell, a

Water container mounted in the upper part of the shell, with an annular space between said shell and container, a trough mounted in the lower part of said shell, there being a space below said trough for placement of heating means, a vertical conduit communicating between said container and trough, a tubular element extending between said container and trough and surrounding said conduit, the upper end of said tubular element having an opening therein for communication between said tubular element and said annular space, said tubular element having a relatively long and short transverse dimension and being positioned with its long transverse dimension disposed transversely to said trough, the ends of said trough extending outwardly beyond said tubular element, the portions of said tubular element disposed laterally of said trough extending downwardly to a position adjacent the bottom of said shell, and a horizontally disposed shield secured to said con- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 633,554 Magee Sept. 19, 1899 1,060,972 Crockford May 6, 1913 1,211,054 Bernard Jan. 2, 1917 1,220,404 Eaton -1 Mar. 27, 1917 1,269,874 Soucy June 18, 1918 1,394,617 Gogerty Oct. 25, 1921 2,097,719 Brembeck Nov. 2, 1937 

